Thurston builds for Toowoomba NRL trial against Titans

FORMER Toowoomba talent Johnathan Thurston is back in training with the North Queensland Cowboys in preparation for their NRL trial against the Titans in the Garden City next month.

Thurston, who helped guide Australia to a World Cup victory last month, joined his Cowboys teammates in pre-season training last week and was happy to see the full squad putting in ahead of the Auckland Nines and trial game against the Titans on February 22 at Clive Berghofer Stadium.

"It's a fresh start for all the boys and we've been training well," he said on the Cowboys website.

"The boys have been training the house down like every club does at this time of year.

"We've got our first trial coming up then the Nines and our main trial in Toowoomba, so footy's not too far away and to have the full squad training now is what we need to do."

The former All Whites playmaker and St Mary's College student said the Cowboys were getting used to training under new coach Paul Green.

"I know everyone's working extremely hard on the systems Greeny is putting in place," Thurston said.

"It's very new to us and we need to make sure over the next few weeks that we focus on getting it right coming into the trials."

General admission tickets are still available from the TRL office at 7 Annand St, Toowoomba.